Quoting from the King James version of the Bible, not a version I usually use, Valeene read from the letter to the Ephesians, chapter 3, verses 20-21:
She focused on each part of these verses. That he (God) is ABLE. Able to do EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY. Able to do exceeding abundantly ABOVE not just a little of what we ask or think, but ABOVE ALL we ask or think (or as the NIV version says, more than we can ask or even IMAGINE). And he does all this according to the power that is at work not just in him (God) but that is at work in US.
Mind-blowing. MIND-BLOWING.
Months later, I was feeling battered by a work conversation in which a leader shot me down. I was in tears every time I thought back on that conversation.
And then we went to speak at Findlay E-Free church in northern Ohio to present the Resounding Hope radios project as part of their Christmas offering.
And the biggest blessing for me that weekend, beyond seeing others get excited about how they could help people in Haiti by sponsoring the radios, was this: Pastor Blair prayed over Storly and me, and over the radios project. And he prayed those words from Ephesians 3. He prayed on our behalf to the God who is able to do exceeding abundantly more than all we ask or think.
And it was just what I needed. To hear. To chew on. To know.
Then February came, and we calculated that we needed to raise several hundred thousand dollars within a one month period to proceed with the project to replace the AM radio towers at Petite Anse. I'd never had that kind of goal before. Neither had others around us. And the burden led us to prayer.
Led us to pray to the One who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. And we've seen God do just that. In very obvious ways. Today, the towers project is 95% funded. And I believe more than ever that God is able.
When I started the Discipleship Training level 4 class (which we just finished) back in January, and needed to choose Bible verses to memorize each week, I chose those verses from Ephesians, and the verses before, starting at verse 14. I wanted not only to know those verses myself, but be able to speak them over others, just as Pastor Blair had prayed them over us.
And yesterday, in an unusual turn of events, Pastor Chuck closed the service with a benediction, using the King James version:
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
She focused on each part of these verses. That he (God) is ABLE. Able to do EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY. Able to do exceeding abundantly ABOVE not just a little of what we ask or think, but ABOVE ALL we ask or think (or as the NIV version says, more than we can ask or even IMAGINE). And he does all this according to the power that is at work not just in him (God) but that is at work in US.
Mind-blowing. MIND-BLOWING.
Months later, I was feeling battered by a work conversation in which a leader shot me down. I was in tears every time I thought back on that conversation.
And then we went to speak at Findlay E-Free church in northern Ohio to present the Resounding Hope radios project as part of their Christmas offering.
And the biggest blessing for me that weekend, beyond seeing others get excited about how they could help people in Haiti by sponsoring the radios, was this: Pastor Blair prayed over Storly and me, and over the radios project. And he prayed those words from Ephesians 3. He prayed on our behalf to the God who is able to do exceeding abundantly more than all we ask or think.
And it was just what I needed. To hear. To chew on. To know.
Then February came, and we calculated that we needed to raise several hundred thousand dollars within a one month period to proceed with the project to replace the AM radio towers at Petite Anse. I'd never had that kind of goal before. Neither had others around us. And the burden led us to prayer.
Led us to pray to the One who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. And we've seen God do just that. In very obvious ways. Today, the towers project is 95% funded. And I believe more than ever that God is able.
When I started the Discipleship Training level 4 class (which we just finished) back in January, and needed to choose Bible verses to memorize each week, I chose those verses from Ephesians, and the verses before, starting at verse 14. I wanted not only to know those verses myself, but be able to speak them over others, just as Pastor Blair had prayed them over us.
And yesterday, in an unusual turn of events, Pastor Chuck closed the service with a benediction, using the King James version:
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.Do you know that He is able to do more than you can even imagine? I mean, do you really know? Consider learning these couple of verses. Say them back to God in worship for who He is, and let them become part of who you are. His power at work in you.
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